Autumn brings a world of change to our everyday lives. The leaves are turning, holidays are just around the corner, and there’s that crisp, fresh chill in the air that calls the name of Old Man Winter hiding just on the other side of Thanksgiving. Before this mellow season turns over to the blustery months that keep us hidden in confines of our homes, it’s a good time to start thinking about what to do to keep your home as cozy as it can be.
One of the most important appliances to be aware of is going to be your furnace. In the dead of winter, the last thing you want is your heater to give out. Finding a contractor, picking the right heating unit, and getting your furnace professionally can take more time than you’ll want to spend when the weather outside is frightful. Take the time now to check whether you’re in need of an upgrade so you’re not left out in the cold.
When you’re seeking new furnace quotes, remember to take these things into consideration:
- Efficiency. The AFUE, or Annual Fuel Usage Efficiency rating, of a furnace will affect your quote. More efficient furnaces cost more up front, but save you money on your monthly heating bills.
- Proper unit size. If a furnace is too big or too small for the size of your specific home, you’ll most likely be wasting energy to heat your home. Wasting energy = wasting money. Make sure your contractor can help you select a properly sized unit for your home.
- Make and model. The type of fuel a furnace uses, how well it’s made, and the name behind it will affect the estimate. Oftentimes, you’ll be paying for a big name when you can still heat your home with a lesser-known brand of furnace. The big names have their advantages, though. Think about warranties, guarantees, and experiential quality when you’re perusing makes and models.
What’s this going to cost you? Furnace prices can be hard to track down from specific manufacturers websites. HVAC manufacturers generally sell their products directly to contractors for wholesale prices, so you’re going to have a hard time finding specific prices without seeking estimates directly from contractors in your area. With a little bit of research, though, you can get ballpark figures on your new furnace cost. The cold hard truth about heating your home? It generally won’t be cheap, but it’s an investment that will be worth it in the long run.
Written by Jim Davenport
Resource: QualitySmith
I’ve done this before and it was really very time consuming as mentioned by you in the above post find a contractor and this person left the job unfinished so i have to find another one.Although I’m not living in U.S but the country where I live it’s also very cold.Temperatures can fall up to -25 C in December and january so the last thing I want to happen with me is any problem in heating my house.